John Coltrane - Plays the blues [EAC FLAC]

Coltrane's sessions for Atlantic in late October 1960 were prolific, yielding the material for My Favorite Things, Coltrane Plays the Blues, and Coltrane's Sound. My Favorite Things was destined to be the most remembered and influential of these, and while Coltrane Plays the Blues is not as renowned or daring in material, it is still a powerful session. As for the phrase "plays the blues" in the title, that's not an indicator that the tunes are conventional blues (they aren't). It's more indicative of a bluesy sensibility, whether he is playing muscular saxophone or, on "Blues to Bechet" and "Mr. Syms," the more unusual sounding (at the time) soprano sax. Elvin Jones, who hadn't been in Coltrane's band long, really busts out on the quicker numbers, such as "Blues to You" and "Mr. Day."

Track listing

A1 Blues to Elvin 7:52
A2 Blues to Bechet 5:44
A3 Blues to You 6:25
B1 Mr. Day 7:56
B2 Mr. Syms 5:19
B3 Mr. Knight 7:30

Some reissues add five bonus tracks: two alternates apiece of "Blues to Elvin" and "Blues to You," and "Untitled Original" (Exotica).


Personnel:

John Coltrane (soprano & tenor saxophones);
McCoy Tyner (piano);
Steve Davis (acoustic bass);
Elvin Jones (drums).

Recorded at Atlantic Studios, New York, New York on October 24, 1960.